Updated Predictions for College Basketball's Preseason Top 25 Poll

As college basketball’s 2013-14 tipoff draws ever closer, the strengths and weaknesses of the country’s top teams come into sharper focus. For some programs, that’s good news as a new transfer arrives on the roster or a freshman exceeds expectations, but others aren’t having nearly as much fun in the summer sun.

North Carolina has been hearing nothing but bad news lately about star wing P.J. Hairston. Between health problems and legal troubles, it’s far from clear whether the Tar Heels will have their leading scorer back for the start of the season.

Read on for more on UNC and the rest of the projected Top 25 that will be in place when the season opener rolls around.

25. Notre Dame

The Hoyas’ loss is Notre Dame’s gain, as the torn ACL that’s expected to cost Greg Whittington his entire season drops Georgetown from the preseason rankings.

Best Asset: Backcourt

Eric Atkins and Jerian Grant were already one of the top perimeter duos in the country, averaging 24.5 points and 11 assists per game between them, and now they’re both seniors who've played together for two years.

Biggest Concern: Replacing Jack Cooley

The 6’9”, 246-pound double-double machine created space for the shooters on the wings by drawing defensive attention to the paint. Can 6’10” rising senior Garrick Sherman make even a fraction of the same contributions?

22. Iowa State

Fred Hoiberg’s magic touch with transfers continues, as the Cyclones grab Marshall star DeAndre Kane—15.1 points, 7.0 assists and 1.8 steals per game—as a graduate transfer who can play immediately.

Best Asset: The two-point shot

It’s a Hoiberg team, so Iowa State will still launch treys like there’s no tomorrow, but adding Kane to returning forwards Melvin Ejim and Georges Niang means that the Cyclones’ top three weapons are better inside the arc than out.

Biggest Concern: Defense

ISU hasn’t played much of it since Hoiberg took over, and with a pair of true freshmen arriving in the backcourt, this team may be even easier to score on next season.

19. Oklahoma State

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Previous Ranking: 18

The Cowboys are going to live off their guards next season, so they can’t be thrilled about losing one, even a projected backup. Detrick Mostella, a promising freshman, switched his commitment to Pitt at the 11th hour.

Best Asset: Marcus Smart

A frontrunner for national Player of the Year honors, Smart has the potential to challenge for the NBA’s top draft pick after finishing second nationally in steals (2.9 per game) and racking up jaw-dropping numbers as a scorer, passer and rebounder.

Biggest Concern: Size

Philip Jurick’s graduation left a weak frontcourt weaker, and Kansas and Baylor will provide some serious big men for the Cowboys to contend with.

17. New Mexico

New coach Craig Neal has a tough act to follow in replacing Steve Alford, but he has the luxury of plenty of returning talent to help him out.

Best Asset: Kendall Williams

When it comes to the postseason—where the Lobos have struggled mightily—there’s nothing more valuable than a senior point guard, and Williams (team highs of 13.3 points and 4.9 assists per game) can run with the best in the country.

Biggest Concern: Three-point shooting

Last year’s best weapon from beyond the arc (Tony Snell) is now a Chicago Bull, and returnees Williams (.348) and Hugh Greenwood (.357) won’t intimidate many opponents.

16. Memphis

Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports

Previous Ranking: 16

The Tigers may not be done improving their roster this offseason, but they’ll stay put in the rankings until the ruling comes down on an eligibility waiver for ex-Missouri guard Michael Dixon Jr. for 2013-14.

Best Asset: Backcourt

Joe Jackson, Chris Crawford and Geron Johnson are all seniors who score in double figures, and all of them grab at least 1.5 steals a game as well.

Biggest Concern: Rebounding

Tarik Black’s departure costs the Tigers one of their best men on the boards, and freshman Austin Nichols is more of a scorer than a glass cleaner.

14. Indiana

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Previous Ranking: 14

After seeing two little-used reserves transfer out (Maurice Creek and Remy Abell), the Hoosiers bring one in by adding Evan Gordon, a shooting guard who’s sadly not on the same level as his older brother and NBA star Eric.

13. Gonzaga

The most suspenseful part of the confident Zags’ offseason was waiting to see whether both Kelly Olynyk and Elias Harris would be chosen in the NBA draft (answer: no, with Harris going undrafted).

Best Asset: Kevin Pangos

Gonzaga’s leading returning scorer, Pangos is also a battle-tested point guard and a tough-minded defender.

Biggest Concern: Sam Dower

The 6’9”, 255-pound Dower has patiently waited his turn through three seasons as a reserve, but now he has to live up to expectations that have repeatedly projected him as the Next Big Thing in Spokane.

12. North Carolina

Peter G. Aiken-USA TODAY Sports

Previous Ranking: 11

In addition to suffering a back injury at Team USA trials, swingman P.J. Hairston is stuck in an increasingly ugly legal quagmire—with potential charges ranging from traffic violations to drugs to weapons—that leaves his season up in the air.

Best Asset: Frontcourt scoring

Returning star James Michael McAdoo (14.4 points per game) will be joined up front by a pair of elite freshmen: fleet-footed Isaiah Hicks and the massive Kennedy Meeks.

Biggest Concern: Hairston

If the 6’5” rising junior misses any significant playing time, Leslie McDonald becomes the only viable perimeter scorer for the Tar Heels.

9. Michigan

For a team that has to replace two first-round draft picks, the national runners-up from Michigan are in remarkably good shape for next season.

Best Asset: Sophomores

One-and-done? Not in Ann Arbor, where Mitch McGary, Glenn Robinson III and Nik Stauskas all came back to give the Wolverines a loaded offense.

Biggest Concern: Leadership

Rising senior Jordan Morgan, a reserve, is the only upperclassmen with significant experience. Meanwhile, floor general Trey Burke is being replaced by freshman Derrick Walton and a pair of relatively untested rising sophomores.

6. Kansas

The raw Jayhawks got a boost when massive Memphis forward Tarik Black (8.1 points and 4.8 rebounds per game) decided to spend his graduate-transfer year in Lawrence.

Best Asset: Andrew Wiggins

There are plenty of great supporting players (including Perry Ellis, pictured), but freshman Wiggins, rated No. 1 nationally in the recruiting class, is the do-it-all star and the most likely leading scorer.

Biggest Concern: Inexperience

Five new starters (including two freshmen) will have a lot of growing up to do, enormous talent notwithstanding.

4. Ohio State

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Previous Ranking: 4

Deshaun Thomas’ draft slot (No. 58 overall) had to be a comedown for his former teammates, but even without Thomas’ star power, the Buckeyes are likely headed for their second Final Four in three years.

Best Asset: Defense

Ballhawking Aaron Craft (2.1 steals per game) is the nation's toughest defender, and he has plenty of long, athletic players around him this season.

Biggest Concern: Low-post presence

Amir Williams is a fine shot blocker and rebounder, but there’s hardly any scoring to be found on the blocks for Ohio State.